Sealer In my experience with Norma brass in 7x61 , 308 norma and 358 Norma yes there is a difference. The older brass stamped RE is heavier and has less capacity. Max loads in brass stamped RE will be about 2 grs less than the newer brass that does not have the RE. I would urge you to separate brass that has the RE stamp from the newer cases and use a different load.
The RE on Norma brass stood for "Reloadable" as in reloadable with Boxer Primers- to differentiate it from brass that had Berdan primers and was not easily reloaded. Other differences would be due to changes in Norma's production- such as thicker/thinner walls, etc.
Posts: 1421 | Location: WA St, USA | Registered: 28 August 2016
My experience with 9.3x57 NORMA Re brass is generally the same as experienced by Snowman with the calibres that he noted. However note that there are two vintages of NORMA Re brass: the older stuff has a 'bar' stamped in the headstamp at 3 and 9 o'clock, while the 'newer' doesn't. The one box of this newer brass that I was able to find falls in precisely the same weight range as the more modern 'norma' headstamped brass, and functions perfectly in my M46. However, the two boxes of older, barred, brass were on average 8 and 12 grains heavier. In addition, they are also larger in both head and rim diameter, so much so that they were difficult to chamber in my rifle. No loss though, they're in the process of being converted to 9x57! Of course, this is a limited sample, so the results could be unique to this calibre. The only other NORMA Re brass I remember working with was in .250 Sav., with the old, barred, headstamp. My notes indicate is was 10 to 20 gr. heavier than American brass. However, I had none of the more recent Norma types to compare it to.
I don't know who makes BARNES brass, but what I have in 7x64 is about 12 gr. heavier than HORNADY brass, and about the same weight as norma and RWS brass, so I doubt it's Hornady.
Hope this helps.
Cheers, Al
Posts: 118 | Location: New Brunswick | Registered: 03 February 2005
Originally posted by sambarman338: The implications of this are interesting. Does not having RE on the brass suggest that the maker does not think it should be used again?
Prior to Norma making brass for the American market (late 1950's/early 1960's)most European brass was made for Berdan primers.When Norma started marketing brass in 7x61, 308 N ,358 N and others they wanted the American market to realize their brass was boxer primed, so they stamped Re on the case heads. About 10 yrs after that Norma likely installed new brass making machinery and they claimed the brass was made thinner yet stronger. The 7x61 cases were then labeled "7x61 Super". These cases are approx. 15 grs lighter than the old ones and the max charge is a couple grs higher. The Re was dropped from the cases heads around this time.
